Good Center Speaker For T50?

I am brand new to this whole surround sound and speaker selection process.

I have a 7.2 system with 4 side/rear TSi100 speakers and two front T50 speakers. My question is basically this - what center speaker would work well with these? The natural choice would be the T30; however, I wouldn't mind paying more for a higher quality speaker. Do you think the timbre of a CS10, CS20, S30, S35, or TSx 250c speaker would be a good fit? Any recommendations?

Thanks!

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Comments

If you have an avr with a decent calibration system, any polk center save the LSiM should work fine. I would definitely go bigger CSi5, CSia6 would both be great choices. Also the older cs400i is great as well, and it’s a lot narrower so it might fit in certain spaces easily.

Use the manufacturers same series of speakers for the front three. They work together to project the sound, and using a center from a different manufacturer or series of the same manufacturer could cause you to localize the center speaker.

Meaning that dialogue, for instance, could be over emphasized, even though the sound levels are perfectly matched. Many people find this annoying at the very least, and could cause you to miss some information.

Use the manufacturers same series of speakers for the front three. They work together to project the sound, and using a center from a different manufacturer or series of the same manufacturer could cause you to localize the center speaker.

Meaning that dialogue, for instance, could be over emphasized, even though the sound levels are perfectly matched. Many people find this annoying at the very least, and could cause you to miss some information.

I agree with the logic here, but I use a CSIA6 for my center and it works very well. That said I've heard systems that use an different brand center and it sounds like crud.

Stay with Polk, I think an S30 would be a nice fit.

When I was a kid my parents told me to turn it down. Now I'm an adult and my kids tell me to turn it down.

Thanks for everyone's input - I am leaning twords an S30 because it is a little less expensive - we will see what happens though as the CSiA6 seems like a really great speaker!

I would say right now the system is coming together nicely - The TSi 100 speakers are good rear and side speakers; but, they really need a subwoofer (which I have). They don't have a lot of low end presence. High notes are very nice and crisp with these speakers. The T50 is a nice speaker as well for the money. I will start with this setup and perhaps upgrade as I get more money.

As a sidenote, my subwoofer is a Klipsch R‑115SW. It's size is enormous and l highly, highly recommend it!